Sales and online readership of the Spectator power ahead once more

The Spectator magazine has recorded its highest-ever sales. The audited ABC average circulation for the first half of this year was almost 77,000 — a weekly average of 76,952 to be exact — the highest ever sale in the magazine’s 180-year history and the 12th consecutive half-year increase.

 Circulation is now 5% up on the first half of 2007. Of particular importance to advertisers, both ‘paid-for’ elements sales were up over the same period last year, with newsstand sales up 4% and subscriptions up almost 6%. The total ‘actively purchased’ copies in the UK increased by 7.4%.

Spectator magazine sales have continued to grow despite a huge increase in traffic to its website. Spectator.co.uk has consistently grown since it re-launch last autumn: average figures for January-June were 182,000 unique users and 1.5million page impressions –an impressive increase of 138% in unique users and 125% in page impressions on the same period last year.

Online growth has continued into the summer. Google Analytics recorded nearly 198,000 unique users and 1.9 million page impressions for spectator.co.uk. 

Andrew Neil, CEO of Press Holdings Media Group, said

“It is both gratifying and mpressive that The Spectator magazine has reached a record 77,000 circulation when its website is powering ahead to almost 200,000 unique users and 2m page impressions a month. To achieve all that at a time of challenging economic circumstances is remarkable and I thank and congratulate the editorial and commercial teams.

“It looks like we are heading for even more troubled economic times. Our goal is still to reach sales of 80,000. But until market conditions improve we will be content to tread water at around 77,000 and look for further growth in online readership and revenues. Spectator.co.uk shows every sign of being the new crown jewels of our magazine group.”

“These figures prove that our editorial strategy for the Spectator is right: we offer the best, most intelligent and wittiest journalism in print and online.  The magazine continues to be the voice of authority on all matters of politics and public policy, read by the most discerning audience in the country. 

“Spectator.co.uk is now an online powerhouse, especially the Coffee House blog, and has rapidly established itself as a site that you have to visit several times a day to keep abreast of the issues of the day.”